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A bit of the old corporate...
....integrity:
Marriott fined $600,000 for jamming guests' Wi-Fi inShare13 Friday - 10/3/2014, 7:20pm ET SCOTT MAYEROWITZ AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees' own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel's own connection. Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots -- tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots. Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee -- which is managed by Marriott -- found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn't affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms. While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord's Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks. Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests' own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against "rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices. At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott's 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference. Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules "to eliminate the ongoing confusion" and "to assess the merits of its underlying policy." The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked. "It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau said in a statement. "This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether." -- “My heart goes out to the people of Ebola.” Sarah Palin |
A bit of the old corporate...
On 10/3/2014 7:21 PM, F*O*A*D wrote:
...integrity: Marriott fined $600,000 for jamming guests' Wi-Fi inShare13 Friday - 10/3/2014, 7:20pm ET SCOTT MAYEROWITZ AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees' own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel's own connection. Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots -- tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots. Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee -- which is managed by Marriott -- found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn't affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms. While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord's Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks. Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests' own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against "rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices. At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott's 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference. Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules "to eliminate the ongoing confusion" and "to assess the merits of its underlying policy." The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked. "It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau said in a statement. "This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether." Sorta reminds me of the many times my company had a booth at a technical conference/trade show and had to pay a union electrician $250 to plug in a light. |
A bit of the old corporate...
On 10/3/14 7:32 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 10/3/2014 7:21 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: ...integrity: Marriott fined $600,000 for jamming guests' Wi-Fi inShare13 Friday - 10/3/2014, 7:20pm ET SCOTT MAYEROWITZ AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees' own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel's own connection. Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots -- tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots. Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee -- which is managed by Marriott -- found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn't affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms. While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord's Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks. Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests' own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against "rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices. At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott's 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference. Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules "to eliminate the ongoing confusion" and "to assess the merits of its underlying policy." The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked. "It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau said in a statement. "This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether." Sorta reminds me of the many times my company had a booth at a technical conference/trade show and had to pay a union electrician $250 to plug in a light. Why would it remind you of that? The electrician's rate card at trade shows and auditoriums is not a secret nor is it handled illegally. Marriott's excuse for its illegal behavior is laughable. -- “My heart goes out to the people of Ebola.” Sarah Palin |
A bit of the old corporate...
On 10/3/2014 7:36 PM, F*O*A*D wrote:
On 10/3/14 7:32 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 7:21 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: ...integrity: Marriott fined $600,000 for jamming guests' Wi-Fi inShare13 Friday - 10/3/2014, 7:20pm ET SCOTT MAYEROWITZ AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees' own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel's own connection. Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots -- tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots. Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee -- which is managed by Marriott -- found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn't affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms. While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord's Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks. Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests' own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against "rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices. At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott's 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference. Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules "to eliminate the ongoing confusion" and "to assess the merits of its underlying policy." The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked. "It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau said in a statement. "This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether." Sorta reminds me of the many times my company had a booth at a technical conference/trade show and had to pay a union electrician $250 to plug in a light. Why would it remind you of that? The electrician's rate card at trade shows and auditoriums is not a secret nor is it handled illegally. Marriott's excuse for its illegal behavior is laughable. When was the last time you went to a nice restaurant carrying your own home cooked dinner? Marriott's jamming was indeed illegal as I understand FCC rules but I don't condemn them for trying to sell their WiFi service. People have choices of where to stay or where to hold conventions. |
A bit of the old corporate...
On 10/3/14 7:57 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 10/3/2014 7:36 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: On 10/3/14 7:32 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 7:21 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: ...integrity: Marriott fined $600,000 for jamming guests' Wi-Fi inShare13 Friday - 10/3/2014, 7:20pm ET SCOTT MAYEROWITZ AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees' own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel's own connection. Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots -- tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots. Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee -- which is managed by Marriott -- found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn't affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms. While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord's Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks. Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests' own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against "rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices. At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott's 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference. Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules "to eliminate the ongoing confusion" and "to assess the merits of its underlying policy." The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked. "It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau said in a statement. "This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether." Sorta reminds me of the many times my company had a booth at a technical conference/trade show and had to pay a union electrician $250 to plug in a light. Why would it remind you of that? The electrician's rate card at trade shows and auditoriums is not a secret nor is it handled illegally. Marriott's excuse for its illegal behavior is laughable. When was the last time you went to a nice restaurant carrying your own home cooked dinner? Marriott's jamming was indeed illegal as I understand FCC rules but I don't condemn them for trying to sell their WiFi service. People have choices of where to stay or where to hold conventions. Ah, so it is ok when corporations break the law. I get it. -- “My heart goes out to the people of Ebola.” Sarah Palin |
A bit of the old corporate...
On 10/3/2014 8:01 PM, F*O*A*D wrote:
On 10/3/14 7:57 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 7:36 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: On 10/3/14 7:32 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 7:21 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: ...integrity: Marriott fined $600,000 for jamming guests' Wi-Fi inShare13 Friday - 10/3/2014, 7:20pm ET SCOTT MAYEROWITZ AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees' own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel's own connection. Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots -- tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots. Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee -- which is managed by Marriott -- found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn't affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms. While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord's Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks. Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests' own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against "rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices. At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott's 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference. Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules "to eliminate the ongoing confusion" and "to assess the merits of its underlying policy." The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked. "It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau said in a statement. "This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether." Sorta reminds me of the many times my company had a booth at a technical conference/trade show and had to pay a union electrician $250 to plug in a light. Why would it remind you of that? The electrician's rate card at trade shows and auditoriums is not a secret nor is it handled illegally. Marriott's excuse for its illegal behavior is laughable. When was the last time you went to a nice restaurant carrying your own home cooked dinner? Marriott's jamming was indeed illegal as I understand FCC rules but I don't condemn them for trying to sell their WiFi service. People have choices of where to stay or where to hold conventions. Ah, so it is ok when corporations break the law. I get it. Putting words in people's mouths seems to be an obsession of yours. |
A bit of the old corporate...
On 10/3/2014 8:01 PM, F*O*A*D wrote:
On 10/3/14 7:57 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 7:36 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: On 10/3/14 7:32 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 7:21 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: ...integrity: Marriott fined $600,000 for jamming guests' Wi-Fi inShare13 Friday - 10/3/2014, 7:20pm ET SCOTT MAYEROWITZ AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees' own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel's own connection. Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots -- tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots. Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee -- which is managed by Marriott -- found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn't affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms. While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord's Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks. Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests' own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against "rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices. At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott's 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference. Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules "to eliminate the ongoing confusion" and "to assess the merits of its underlying policy." The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked. "It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau said in a statement. "This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether." Sorta reminds me of the many times my company had a booth at a technical conference/trade show and had to pay a union electrician $250 to plug in a light. Why would it remind you of that? The electrician's rate card at trade shows and auditoriums is not a secret nor is it handled illegally. Marriott's excuse for its illegal behavior is laughable. When was the last time you went to a nice restaurant carrying your own home cooked dinner? Marriott's jamming was indeed illegal as I understand FCC rules but I don't condemn them for trying to sell their WiFi service. People have choices of where to stay or where to hold conventions. Ah, so it is ok when corporations break the law. I get it. One problem is that the rules (not necessarily laws) established by the FCC for wireless transmission of data are based on those written back in the 1920's and 1930's well before the Internet, iPhones and other personal wireless devices were ever envisioned. For commercial purposes they basically said that you could not be charged to receive radio and TV transmissions broadcast from antennas. It's similar to the controversy regarding FAA rules governing privately owned drones and the recording of video data. You can do it but not for commercial purposes nor are you supposed to receive any payment for recording a video. The FAA is starting to revise those rules because they are obviously outdated. |
A bit of the old corporate...
On 10/3/14 7:57 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 10/3/2014 7:36 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: On 10/3/14 7:32 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 7:21 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: ...integrity: Marriott fined $600,000 for jamming guests' Wi-Fi inShare13 Friday - 10/3/2014, 7:20pm ET SCOTT MAYEROWITZ AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees' own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel's own connection. Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots -- tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots. Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee -- which is managed by Marriott -- found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn't affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms. While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord's Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks. Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests' own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against "rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices. At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott's 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference. Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules "to eliminate the ongoing confusion" and "to assess the merits of its underlying policy." The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked. "It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau said in a statement. "This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether." Sorta reminds me of the many times my company had a booth at a technical conference/trade show and had to pay a union electrician $250 to plug in a light. Why would it remind you of that? The electrician's rate card at trade shows and auditoriums is not a secret nor is it handled illegally. Marriott's excuse for its illegal behavior is laughable. When was the last time you went to a nice restaurant carrying your own home cooked dinner? Marriott's jamming was indeed illegal as I understand FCC rules but I don't condemn them for trying to sell their WiFi service. People have choices of where to stay or where to hold conventions. I wonder if Marriott announced ahead of time to its customers that their wifi would not work, and they'd have to buy hotspots from Marriott for an exorbitant fee. -- “My heart goes out to the people of Ebola.” Sarah Palin |
A bit of the old corporate...
On 10/3/14 8:09 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
On 10/3/2014 8:01 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: On 10/3/14 7:57 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 7:36 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: On 10/3/14 7:32 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 7:21 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: ...integrity: Marriott fined $600,000 for jamming guests' Wi-Fi inShare13 Friday - 10/3/2014, 7:20pm ET SCOTT MAYEROWITZ AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees' own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel's own connection. Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots -- tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots. Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee -- which is managed by Marriott -- found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn't affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms. While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord's Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks. Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests' own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against "rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices. At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott's 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference. Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules "to eliminate the ongoing confusion" and "to assess the merits of its underlying policy." The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked. "It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau said in a statement. "This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether." Sorta reminds me of the many times my company had a booth at a technical conference/trade show and had to pay a union electrician $250 to plug in a light. Why would it remind you of that? The electrician's rate card at trade shows and auditoriums is not a secret nor is it handled illegally. Marriott's excuse for its illegal behavior is laughable. When was the last time you went to a nice restaurant carrying your own home cooked dinner? Marriott's jamming was indeed illegal as I understand FCC rules but I don't condemn them for trying to sell their WiFi service. People have choices of where to stay or where to hold conventions. Ah, so it is ok when corporations break the law. I get it. Putting words in people's mouths seems to be an obsession of yours. You agreed what Marriott did was illegal, but you don't condemn them for breaking the regs because they were "trying to sell their wifi service." I get it. Actually, they weren't trying to sell their service - they were forcing down the throats of their customers. -- “My heart goes out to the people of Ebola.” Sarah Palin |
A bit of the old corporate...
F*O*A*D wrote:
On 10/3/14 8:09 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 8:01 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: On 10/3/14 7:57 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 7:36 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: On 10/3/14 7:32 PM, Mr. Luddite wrote: On 10/3/2014 7:21 PM, F*O*A*D wrote: ...integrity: Marriott fined $600,000 for jamming guests' Wi-Fi inShare13 Friday - 10/3/2014, 7:20pm ET SCOTT MAYEROWITZ AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- Marriott International will pay a $600,000 fine for jamming conference attendees' own Wi-Fi networks at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, forcing them to pay hefty prices to use the hotel's own connection. Frequent travelers often carry personal Wi-Fi hotspots -- tiny devices that can connect to the Internet via cell phone towers. For $50 a month, they can connect to the Internet on the move, often avoiding hefty fees charged by hotels, airports and conference facilities. Some people upgrade their wireless data plans to make their smartphones into hotspots. Last year, a conference attendee at the Opryland hotel in Nashville, Tennessee -- which is managed by Marriott -- found that the hotel was jamming devices in its ballrooms and complained to the Federal Communications Commission. In the complaint, the guest noted that the same thing happened previously at another Gaylord property. The block didn't affect Wi-Fi access in guest rooms. While jamming personal Wi-Fi connections, Marriott was charging conference organizers and exhibitors between $250 and $1,000, per access point, to use the Gaylord's Wi-Fi connection. The FCC declined to release the initial guest complaint except if requested under the Freedom of Information Act, a process that can often take weeks. Marriott agreed to the fine and has instructed its hotels not to use the jamming technology in the way it was used at Opryland, according to the FCC. But the company on Friday defended the blocking of guests' own Wi-Fi networks in the interest of network security. The company said it is legal to use FCC-approved technology to protect its Wi-Fi service against "rogue wireless hotspots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," adding that hospitals and universities employee similar jamming practices. At the four Gaylord hotels in the U.S., Marriott today monitors for hotspots causing interference but does not automatically block such connections, said Harvey Kellman, a lawyer for the hotel company. Only a handful of Marriott's 4,000 other hotels worldwide currently screen for hotspot interference. Marriott said it encourages the FCC to change its rules "to eliminate the ongoing confusion" and "to assess the merits of its underlying policy." The government said people who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal connection will be blocked. "It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hotspots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," Travis LeBlanc, chief of the FCC's enforcement bureau said in a statement. "This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether." Sorta reminds me of the many times my company had a booth at a technical conference/trade show and had to pay a union electrician $250 to plug in a light. Why would it remind you of that? The electrician's rate card at trade shows and auditoriums is not a secret nor is it handled illegally. Marriott's excuse for its illegal behavior is laughable. When was the last time you went to a nice restaurant carrying your own home cooked dinner? Marriott's jamming was indeed illegal as I understand FCC rules but I don't condemn them for trying to sell their WiFi service. People have choices of where to stay or where to hold conventions. Ah, so it is ok when corporations break the law. I get it. Putting words in people's mouths seems to be an obsession of yours. You agreed what Marriott did was illegal, but you don't condemn them for breaking the regs because they were "trying to sell their wifi service." I get it. Actually, they weren't trying to sell their service - they were forcing down the throats of their customers. Sort of like union electricians forcing a company to pay $250 to plug a computer or scope in to a standard NEMA plug. |
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